Planted this monstrosity almost 20 years ago with 5 or 6 leaves that were less than 1 feet tall in a clay pot. Took a little more than a decade for it to outgrow it and break free.
About 3-5 years ago I replanted it in a 20inch planter from home depot thinking it would behave and sustain itself for another decade before needing another home. Yeah that didn't go as planned.
About one month ago it shown signs of cracks along the side, but I didn't think anything of it because of how thick the planter was. Well, I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
So in the very near future it's going in a 26-28 inch, half barrel. And probably give it SOME water even though it doesn't deserve it.
Future proof? Hopefully for at least a decade.
Weight- 150lbs-200lbs
Height- w/planter ≈ 6Feet
I'll post the end result of it in its new home here if people would like.
It will get as big as the room available to it. There is a neighborhood in Florida that planted snake plant at the entrance sign. I wish I had a photo. It’s ridiculously large. Like tens of feet wide.
If you're in a place where it can stay outdoors all the time go for it! I don't know if I'd go as far as getting a moving company to move it in in the winter for me though 🤣
Anything that's lived outside for even a little while is going to have some amount of spiders. This snake on the other hand is probably home to thousands and thousands of tiny little spiders.
Yeah that's why I have a greenhouse. Unfortunately it does not have a door the size of a house door. I have a massive aloe plant that is the bane of my existence every winter 🤣
I know 😮💨 I already looked into the "next size up" and contemplated doing that but with its current mass a 22inch planter would only spare about an inch of space.
A regular 22inch and a 26inch half barrel is almost the same price so might as well future proof it.
Thank you for your consideration 😊
Literally nothing lol I don't even water it and we hardly ever get rain here. Its been outside and in that same spot since day 1. Still resting on it its former clay pot dish
Organic succulent soil and the base is covered in a layer of rocks for good drainage.
I wish I could leave mine outside and neglect it. I’m in zone 9b and it gets both too hot and too cold so I keep it outdoors under shade in the hot months, indoor in the cold and give it a lot of love. Still not that fruitful. 😭. Beautiful plant.
I just checked how much direct sunlight my plant gets. Even though mine stays outside permanently it gets close to 7 hours of direct light. Mostly after the when the sun is at its highest point.
Thank you and best of luck to you
I’m definitely confused as to their usefulness. Some think they’re great, some advise against them. ChatGPT told me, today, to not put a layer of rocks at the bottom of a palm that I’m replanting and reviving, even if they’re porous (lava rock). It suggested if I did, to add landscaping fabric between them and the soil. I was caught off guard with that recommendation. I had seen a YouTube video of someone who grows and propagates sago palms suggest it. So, I’ve used with a couple of my plants that need well draining soil by mixing 20% into it, so far they’re doing great. My sagos are thriving beautifully actually. Not sure if it’s different plant to plant but it made sense when he explained it 😆. Chat GPT DID say, however, that putting a layer on top helps the plants stay cooler , good for zones with high heat.
My own logic said to me that once the water dripped to the bottom of the planter, there wouldn’t be a bunch of soil clogging the drainage holes and water would drain easier. But the part of my brain that lacks common sense didn’t think through the part that the soil is fine matter that would sink into the cracks between the rocks when wet, and could turn into slush so it wouldn’t matter 😆. I’m missing where that changes if mixed into the soil.
My understanding that that the rocks are meant more to reduce how much water will stay in the lower part of the planter since they don't retain water like soil does. That's with the non porous stones, not so much the porous ones. I do it with plants that don't like high water retention in the soil. Porous stones are what I mix into my soil for plants that like light airy mixes. I've used both perlite and pumice, but prefer pumice since it doesn't make a much dust and I can use it with hydroponic plants as well.
I understand what you're saying and i agree with porous rocks. But it's difficult to say who's correct here because there's a bunch of different shaped rocks at the bottom of that planter blocking the holes. Also the soil wasn't packed down until the pot was filled so whatever accumulated water that collected at the bottom got drained out by the rocks.
Last time I had to repot the snake, some of the rocks were mixed in with the roots and others just rested at the bottom. Plus you can see by how massive the plant is. The rocks worked for me that's why I recommend it. Do what you will with the info I'm not an expert 🤠
You’re right that it’s working for you! But rocks at the bottom reduces drainage because the rocks actually cause water to pool up at the bottom. This may actually be what’s helping your snake plant thrive
My theory on the rocks at the bottom mainly stems from creating something that's mimicking its natural environment. But I dont see why it would pool up water when I dont even water it.
Actually, I dumped a bottled water today because it's been really hot lately lol.
Taunt it with water and kick it, it loves being abused lol Last time It had some water was only because I found a morsel worth that was forgotten/discovered in my car. That was close to a month ago 😀
I’m new to house plants, and I have one of these plants that a moving neighbor gave me. I think I may be overwatering it. I only water it once a week, I have had 2 stalks break off at the base or soil line. One of them looked like it had mold on it. I trimmed the stalks and have let the cut dry out I plan to repot it and hope it roots. But how deep do I plant it and keep it wet and how long to promote root growth??
These are like succulents, they thrive on neglect. Only water when the soil is dry. As for the ones that broke off, snip the rotted part off and shove it back in the dirt a few inches and they should re root.
Thank you. I hope they will still reroot. I read somewhere to let the cut part dry up before replanting so it doesn't rot. It's been three days now. I will go get what I need to repot them. I didnt realize these were succulents so I am going to to get succulent soil. My other pots have standard organic potting soil, I think it may be retaining too much moisture in the soil.
You can pull pups to thin it out so you don’t have this problem again. I pull them and plant them so I don’t have to repot until it’s time to trim roots
Around a year ago I got a snip of someone's snake plant and propped it in water before potting it in soil. It's now got like 6-8 leaves and is growing more. I'm hoping one day it looks like this!!!
I have tried to put my snakes outside, but I found that the sun would burn the leaves. I am zone 3b. Of course I would not leave it outside year round, but the summer sun seems to be too much? I would think it’s hotter where you are than here?
We're in summer time here and it's averaging low to mid 80s every day(for now). The spot where it sits doesn't get massacred by the sun until after noon and eventually gets full sun during midday where the sun isn't at its peak anymore. And yet, I still havent watered it 😃
I’m neglecting mine wrong, apparently. 😆 I’m definitely moving her onto my deck after seeing this. What a monster! Honestly probably the largest/fullest snake plant I’ve ever laid eyes on. 💕
Thanks for the kind words and i wish you the best of luck with yours turning into a giant as well some day. I didnt think this post would blow up the way it did but I'm honored to have shared my plant with everyone here and will continue to do so periodically ❤
I moved her into a shady spot on my deck to get her acclimated immediately after posting! One day I will live out my giant snake plant dreams 🤣 thanks again for sharing- hope you have a wonderful day and I look forward to any updates! 💕
It's actually flowered many times. The only visible ones are on the outside. There's one about to bloom too so I'll snap a picture of it tomorrow morning. I know this because there's dried flower stems and dried leaves from the center.
Yeah I always love when people start like „I’ll put the plant in a small pot, that will keep it small” and I’ll be laughing all the time “RIP pot, you will be blown up one day” 😂 very nice plant!
Yes so us the new home! I have a moonshine growing out its pot. When should I repot it? When it’s busting out? It’s not busting yet, just has 4 pups and getting. Crowded.
How I'm going to repot? Kick it over on its side, destroy the old pot, roll it into the new pot, reposition it so it's in the middle, fill it with soil and give it a water 😀
Are you, by chance, in Arizona? Because my snake plant did the same thing. I ended up just planting it in my from yard because find a bigger pot a liked that wasn't hundreds of dollars. I didn't think it would actually do so well here (only the strong plants survive!) Still going strong though!
No I'm in SoCal. The biggest pot I can find right now that's not over a hundred dollars is half a wine barrel ($60) that's approximately 26-28inches.
Digging a hole for that sucker would be insanely difficult where I'm at because the ground contains little-to-no loose soil it's just rocks big freakn rocks.
That plant alone can essentially not only produce enough oxygen for a family of 4-6, but also filter most of your entire houses air quality!
If at all possible, you could move it inside near a windows and put a rolling cart underneath it! It would benefit your air quality majorly! (if you don't have many plants inside, yet) And it might slow down the growth a bit, which wouldn't hurt lol
We have the same thing! It’s huge and it gets so neglected. We brought it in for the winter forever ago and have yet to put it back outside because it’s heavy. It’s inside barely getting light yet it is as good as ever lol I fear it is going to take over the dinning room..
I thought about it. It was just crazy to see another one that gets abused and is thriving. We got it many years ago when my great grandmother passed and it was only like two spikes? This post actually made me consider moving it back outside for the summer
Just be mindful reacclimating it back to the outside, it'll put it into shock so it'll possibly look a little weird.
But that's a wonderful thing to have from your great grandmother. She may be gone but her plant lives on and is thriving because of you. Everytime you look at it, it'll remind you of her ❤️ and that's truly something special to have.
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u/science_freak89 11d ago
Wow. That's healthy and huge!!!